Foldable rule.



Nq. 734,013. PATENTED'JULY 21, l903..

J. A. 6r F. L. TRAUT. l

FOLDABLE RULE. APPLIYoATIoN FILED Dnc. 1. moz.

no MODEL.

E wams Ptrzm co., @uovo-uws., wAsNmaoN. u. c.

No. tettoia".

i PATENT rat-enten July 21, 190e.

Fries.

JUs'rUs A. 'r'RAUjr AND FRANK L. TR'A'T, CFNEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT.

FOLDABL'E RULE.

SPECIFICATI'ON forming part of Letters Patent No. 734,013, dated July 21, 1903. Application ledDeeeinber 1,1902. Serial No. 133,372. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, it nwty concern:

Be it known that we, JUSTUS A. TRAUT and FRANK L. TRAUT, 'residing at New B ritain, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut,citizens of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Foldable Rules and` Similar Oontrivances, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to foldable rules and similar contrivances; and it consists,substan tially, in the improvements hereinafter particularly described. Y

The invention has reference more especially to foldable rules and similar contrivances of that class or type comprising a plurality of sections movably joined together in a manner to enable the sections to be moved or turned edgewise one upon another for the purpose of determining measurements and for other purposes in the arts; and the principal object of the invention is to provide a foldable rule or similar contrivance of this kind with an improved joint which is reliableV in construction and operation and one which is simple and effective. and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

A further object is to provide means independently of the jointof thefoldable sections of the rule or similarcontrivance whereby the sections lnay be frictionally held or maintained in operative relationship intermediate the full open and closed positions thereofand also whereby saidsections may be positively locked relatively to each other when moved or turned to eitherY of such latter positions.

A still further object of the invention is to provide the sections of a foldable rule or similar contrivance with a joint and an independent retaining device for the sections,'the tWo being cooperatively constructedand organized tothe maintenance of accuracy of measurement and other uses to which the contrivance may be applied, and also to provide a retaining device for said sections adapted to be supplied to the trade or to manufacturersof rules or similar Contrivances of this kind as a new article of manufacture.

The above and additional objects are attained by means substantially such as are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure l is a View in perspective of a fold- `assembled or put together. `in perspective of each of the elements constiv tuting the jointfor the sectionsof the foldpendent joint therefor.

able rule or similar contrivanceembodying our improvements, one of the sections of the rule being turned outwardly to a position intei-mediate the full open and closed positions of the sections. Fig. 2 isa similar view of a portion of one of the sections of the rule or similarcontrivance, showing one of the inembers of the retaining device as applied to the face of this section at the position kthereof Where joinder is made with another section. Fig. 3 is a similar View to Fig. 2, showing the other member of the retaining device as applied to the face of another section at the joint thereof. Fig. 4. is a side View of a portion of the rule-section of Fig. l, showing a form of Construction of the face thereof at the place of application thereto of the member of the retaining device belonging to this section.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional vieW of portions of separate sections of the rule or simi.

lar contrivance, together with the elements constituting the joint and independent retaining device for the sections, said view showing the manner in which the parts are able rule or similar eontrivance. Fig. 7 is an enlarged View in perspectiveof one member of the independent retaining device for the .rule-sections, and Fig. 8 is a similar view of the other member of said retaining device, these two views showing the construction of said members more clearly. Fig. 9 isa View in perspective, showing the construction and operation of the members of the retainingdevice forY the rule-sections as united by the inde- Fig-10 is aview in plan and side elevation of the elements constituting the independent joint for the memlbers of the retaining device for the rule-sections. Fig. ll is an enlarged transverse seetional view taken through twosections of the rule and the independentjoints for said sections and the retainingdevice therefor.

Fig. 6 is a view Before proceeding with a more detailed description it may be stated that we preferably construct the sections of the foldable rule or similar contrivance of wood, although any other suitable material may be employed therefor, and the elements constituting our improvements are so assembled or organized that the edges of said sections are left even and uniform throughout, so as to preserve a clean or smooth working surface thereon, and thus permit of graduations being placed upon such edges or surfaces, if desired. lVe employ a pivot-joint for the sections of the rule near the ends thereof, and We also employ a retaining device for the sections, said device being constituted of separate members,which are cooperatively united by means of apivotjoint which is practically independent of the joint for the sections, said members being each of special construction and the general embodiment of said joints and retaining device being such as to impart the advantage thatiu the'wearing of the rule at the joint by constant use or otherwise the hitherto usual tendency of the relatively small pin passing through the sections becoming loose is overcome, which error (common to many former rules or similar contrivances of this kind) when occurring at one or more joints of the rule-sections causes a material lengthening or shortening of the rule in use, thus rendering the same unreliable for an accurate determination of measurements. The pivot for the joint of the rule-sections and the pivot for the joint of the members of the retaining device for the sections are preferably separately constructed; though in sortie instances they may be made integral with each other, the first-mentioned form thereof, hovever, having the advantage that each pivot normally serves the individual requirements thereof, thereby giving the best results in practice.

Specific reference being had to the drawings bythe designating characters marked thereon, A represents airule or similar contrivauce comprising a plurality of foldable sections movably united or joined together by the means constituting our present improvements, it being here mentioned that 'reference to but two of said sections need be made for the full purposes of the present description. In each of said sections, near the end thereof, an opening a is formed all the way through the same, and passing through said openings is a pivot Z), hereinafter more specifically referred to, said pivot preferably being hollow for the purpose of lightness and strength. This pivot constitutes the joint by which the sections of the foldable rule or similar contrivance may be turned edgewise one upon another either to lengthen or shorten the rule, and While the same may also be made to partly constitute the means for retaining said sections in proper position relatively to each other we preferably employ an independent retaining device for this vpurpose, and, as already explained, We also preferably employ an independent joint for movablyconnectingthe two members ofwhich said device is constructed, it beingl nientioned at this point that we are not limited to the special form of retaining device herein shown and about to be specifically described,

since, as will be apparent, the same may be constructed of various other forms coming within the scope of our invention. Thus, as shown in Fig. 4, we preferably form in one face of the rule-section b2, on either side of the opening c therethrough, a recess c, the sides' or Walls of Which are preferably circular in contour, and fitted to this same face of the said section in any suitable way is one member, B, of the independent retaining device employed, said member consisting, preferably, of a thin plate tl, of metal, having centrally thereof an opening e, which registers with the opening a in the section, and which plate is also provided on either side of the said opening c therein with an opening g, said latter openings registering with the said recesses c in the face of the section. As a preferred means of securing this member B of the retaining device in position upon the said face of the rule-section b2 We form the sides of said plate tl for a suitable distance from each end thereof with outwardly-turned anges h, projecting from which are barbs or prongs t', which are driven into the material forming the section, thereby securely holding the member in place, it being apparent, however, that such barbs or prongs may be turned outwardly directly from the said plate d, thus dispensing with the flanges h; but the latterare employed for the purpose ofstrengthening said barbs or prongs and preventing the same from breaking olf. The other member, C, of the retaining device for the rulesections is also preferably constructed of a thin metal plate m of substantially the same shape and dimensions as the plate of the rst member referred to, this plate fm also being formed for a suitable distance from each end thereof with side flanges n, having projecting outwardly therefrom t-he barbs or prongs n2, which are driven in like manner into the adjacent portion of the surface of another rulesection b3, by which to secure the said member C in position, the said plate being further formed with a substantially central opening o, which registers with the opening c in said rule-section b3, as shown. Formed, preferably,fro1n the stock of the material of which the said plate m is composed and on either side of the said central opening o in said plate is a spring-arm or detent s,whicl1 is cut from the plate and turned outwardly therefrom at t, each of these spring-arms ordetents being formed on its inner surface at or near the end thereofwith a projection consisting, preferably, of a rounded protuberance u, struck up from the material of the said spring-arm or detent, the position of these projections or protuberances corresponding with both the openings g in plate d and the recesses c in the face of the rule-section b2, said projections or protuberances constituting means for positively locking the rule-sections together in the full open and closed positions thereof. Each member of the said retaining device for the rule-sections is formed about cen- IOO IIO

trally at each longitudinal edge thereof with substantially a semicircular lateral extension @,'the widest part of each of which may or may not extend to the corresponding edge of the rule-section to which the member is applied, While the plates d and'm themselves are each preferably substantially rectangular in shape and of a width considerably less than that of each of the said sections, this construction bringing the points of entry of the barbs or prongs on each of the members considerably within the longitudinal edges of each of the sections, and thus obviating splitting of the material of said sections and at the same time providing sufficient width of spaces on the faces of the sections at the edges, along which the graduations 2 may be properly continued and observed. In both the full open and closed positions of the rulesections the said sections are positively locked or engaged relatively to each other in virtue of the automatic seating of the projections or protuberances u on the spring-arms or detents s within the openings g and recesses c of the plate d and rule-section h2, respectively,while on turning either of the rule-sections to any intermediate position the said projections or protuberances u are caused to ride upon the adjacent surfaces of the semicircular lateral extensions c of the plate d, the said springarms or detents s being at the same time placed under outward tension, due to the temporary attening out of the same produced by the movement of the members of the retaining devices one upon the other, as is apparent.

Fromthe construction and organization described and shown it will be noted that no difficulty is likely to arise by the' dropping from the edges of the plate d of the projections or protuberances tt of said spring-arms or detents s, and consequently the operation of the rule may always be easily and readily accomplished, and it will be understood thatv for all the purposes of our invention the recesses c in the face of rule-section b2 may be dispensed with, such recesses being'preferably employed, however, in order to derive a deeper seating for the said projections or protuberances.

In providing the independent pivot-joint for the rule-sections and the retaining device for said sections the adjacent inner faces of the sections are irst formed with a countersink or recess at 5 around the inner edge of the openings a, therein, and the hollow pivot b for the sections ispassed through said openings, with the flanged or headed ends 6 thereof vseated in countersinks or recesses 6a, formed in the faces of the sections (see Fig. l1) at the outer edge of said openings tt, the said pivot b also passing through another hollow pivot 7, having the flanged or headed ends 8 thereof seated in said countersinks or recesses 5, this latter pivot fitting the sides of the central openings in the members of the retaining device, so as'to permit said memsurface of the corresponding countersink or recess 6a is a spring-washer 10, the tendency of which is to impart a yieldable action to the Working of one section of the rule relatively to the other whenever either of the sections is turned to shorten orlengthen the rule. As already stated, the embodiment of our invention herein selected for illustration is capable of alterations and changes without altering the character of the invention.

Having thusdescribed our invention, we claimy l. As anew article of manufacture, a pair of plates pivotally riveted together so as to be incapable of movement in axialdirection, the structure thus formed being provided at opposite sides of the rivet with yielding means for locking the plates against pivotal movement, and the side edges of the plates being also provided With barbs for attachment to rule-sections.

2. A folding rule of the class described, comprising rule-sections jointed together, each joint comprising a pair of plates directly riveted together at one point, said plates having barbs inserted into the rule-sections between the edges of the latter, and means being also provided for securing said rule-sections to said plates.

3. A folding rule of the class described, comprising rule-sections jointed together, each joint comprising a pair of plates directly riveted together at one point so as to be incapable of relative'movement in .axial direction, the structure thus formed being provided at opposite sides of the rivet with yielding means for locking them against pivotal movement, andthe plates having'at their edges barbs which are inserted in the rule-sections.

4. A folding rule of the class described, comprising rule-sections jointed together, each joint comprising a pair of plates directly riveted together so as to be capable of pivotal action, and means, including a central connector, for attaching the sections to the plates.

5. A folding rule ofthe class described, comprising rule-sections jointed together, each joint comprising a pair of plates directly riveted together and inserted between the sections, and the sections being additionally riveted together.

6. Afoldingrule ofthe classdescribed, comprising rule-sections jointed together, each joint comprising a pair of plates directly riveted together, and the sections being also connected by a rivet which passes through the rivet for the plates.

7. A folding rule of the class described comprising rule-sections jointed together, each joint'comprising a pair of plates, and a single hollow rivet connecting said plates, in combination with a rivet passing throughsaid.

rivet and connecting the sections.

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vI'IO 8. A folding rule of the class described, comprising rule-sections jointed together, each joint comprising a pair of plates, and a single hollow rivet connecting said plates, in combination with a rivet passing through said rivet and connecting the sections, said plates having barbs inserted into the sections between the edges of the latter.

9. A folding rule of the class described, comprising rulesections jointed together, each joint comprising a pair of plates attached to the sections and directly riveted together at one point, said plates being provided with yielding means for locking the plates and sections against pivotal movement, and said sections being additionally riveted together.

10. A folding rule of the class described, comprising rule sections jointed together, each joint comprising a pair of plates directly riveted together at one point and provided at opposite sides of the plate with yielding means for locking them against pivotal movement, and having at their edges barbs which yare inserted in the rule-sections, and additional means for riveting the sections together.

11. A folding rule of the class described, comprising rule-sections jointed together, each joint comprising a pair of plates directly riveted together at one point and provided at opposite sides of the rivet with yielding means for locking them against pivotal movement, and having at their edges barbs which are inserted in the rule-sections, and a rivet passing through said plate-rivet and additionally fastening said sections together.

12. A folding rule of the class described, comprising rulesections jointed together, each joint comprising'a pair of plates directly attached to each other in a manner to permit pivotal action, one of said plates being provided with a detent and the other being provided with a seat for said detent, said plates being attached to said sections, and a central rivet connecting said sections.

13. A folding rule of the class described, comprising rule -sections jointed together, each joint comprising a pair of plates, and a rivet directly connecting them, one of said plates having formed therein a detent, and the other of said plates having a seat for said detent, and said plates being attached to said sections; and a central rivet connecting said sections.

14. A folding rule of the class described, comprising rule sections jointed together, each joint comprising a pair of plates, and a plurality of concentric securing devices, one of which secures the plates together and the other of which secures the sections to the plates.

15. A folding rule of the class described, comprising rule -sections jointed together, each joint comprising a pair of plates whereof one is provided with a detent and the other with a seat for the detent, and a plurality of concentric devices one of which secures the plates together and the other of which secures the sections to the plates, the latter having barbs which are inserted in the sections.

16. A rule or similar contrivance comprising foldable sections, a joint foi` the sections, a retaining device for the sections constructed of members having means adapted to lock the sections in the full open and closed positions thereof, and an independent joint for said retaining device.

17. A rule or similar contrivance comprising movable sections adapted to be turned edgewise one upon another, a joint for the sections including a pivot, a retaining device for the sections constructed of members having means adapted to lock the sections in the full open and closed positions thereof, and an independent joint for said retaining device also including a pivot.

18. A rule or similar contrivance comprising foldable sections, a joint for the sections including a hollow pivot, a retaining device for the sections constructed of members having means adapted to lock the sections in the full open and closed positions thereof, and an independent joint for said retaining device also including a hollow pivot, one of said pivots working within the other.

19. A rule or similar' contrivance comprising movable sections adapted to be turned edgewise one upon another, a joint for the sections includinga hollow pivot, a retaining device for the sections constructed of members having means adapted to lock the sections in the full open and closed positions thereof, and an independent joint for said retaining device also including a hollow pivot, one of said pivots working in the other.

20. A rule orsimilar contrivance comprising foldable sections, a joint for the sections including a hollow pivot, a retaining device for the sections constructed of members having means adapted to lock the sections in the full open and closedpositions thereof, and an independent joint for said retaining device also including a hollow pivot, said latter pivot working in the pivot first named.

21. A rule or similar contrivance comprising movable sections adapted to be turned edgewise one upon another, a joint for the sections including a hollow pivot, a retaining device for the sections constructed of members having means adapted to lock the sections in the full open and closed positions thereof, and an independent joint for said retaining device also including a hollow pivot, said latter pivot working in the pivot first named.

22. A rule or similar contrivance comprising foldable sections, a joint for the sections including a pivot, a retaining device for the sections constructed of members havingl means adapted to lock the sections in the full open and closed positions thereof, said means being also adapted to bind the sections frictionally on turning the latter to intermediate IOO IIO

positions, and an independent joint for said retaining device also including a pivot. Y

28. A rule or similar contrivance comprising movable sectionsv adapted to be turned one upon another, a joint for the sections includin g a pivot, a retaining device constructed of members having means adapted to lock the sections in the full open and closed positions thereof, said means being also adapted to bind the sections frictionally on turning the latter to intermediate positions, and an independent joint for said retaining device also-including a pivot.

24. A rule or similar contrivance comprising foldable sections, a joint for the sections including a hollow pivot, a retaining device for the sections constructed of members having means adapted to lock the sections in the full open and closed positions thereof, said means being also adapted to bind the sections frictionally on turning the latter to intermediate positions, and an independent joint for said retaining device also including a hollow pivot, one of said pivots working within the other.

25. A rule or similar contrivance comprising movable sections adapted to be turned edgewise one upon another, a joint for the sections including a hollow pivot, a retaining device for the sections constructed of members having means adapted to lock the sections in the full open and closed positions thereof, said means being also adapted to bind the sections frictionally on turning the latter to intermediate positions, and an independent joint for said retaining device also including a hollow pivot, said latter pivot working in the pivot rst named.

26. A rule or similar contrivance comprising foldable sections, a joint for the-sections, a retaining device for the sections constructed of a member having openings or recesses and a member having spring-arms engaging the sideskof said openings in the full open and closed positions of the sections, and an independent joint for said retaining device.

27. A rule or similar contrivance comprising movable sections adapted to be turned edgewise one upon another, a joint for the sections, a retaining device for the sections constructed of a member having openings or recesses and a member having spring-arms engaging the sides of said openings in the full open and closed positions of the sections, and

an independent joint for said retaining device.

28. A rule or similar contrivance comprising foldable sections, a joint for the sections including a hollow pivot, a retaining device for the sections constructed of a member having openings or recesses and a member having spring-arms engaging the sides of said openings in the 'full open and closed positions of the sections, and an independent joint for said retaining device also including a hollow pivot, one of said pivots working within the other.

29. A rule or similar contrivance comprising movable sections adapted to be turned edgewise one upon another, a joint forthe sections including a hollow pivot, a retaining device for the sections constructed of a member having openings or recesses and a member having spring-arms engaging the sides of said openings in the full open and closed positions of the sections, and an independent joint for said retaining device also including a hollow pivot, one of said pivots Working within the other.

30. A rule or similar contrivance comprising foldable sections, a joint for the sections including a hollow pivot, a retaining device for the sections constructed of a member having openings or recesses and a member having spring-arms engaging the sides of said openings in the full open and closed positions of the sections, and an independent joint for said retaining device also including a hollow pivot, said latter pivot Working in the pivot first named.

31. A rule or similar contrivance comprising movable sections adapted to be t-urned edgewise one upon another, a joint for the sections including a hollow pivot, a retaining device for the sections constructed of a member having openings or recesses and a member having spring-arms engaging the sides of said openings in the full open and closed positions of the sections, and an independent joint for said retaining device alsoincluding a hollow pivot, said latter pivot working in the pivot first named.

JUSTUS A. TRAUT. FRANK L. TRAUT.

Witnesses:

EBEN STRONG, C. H. OLDERsHAM.

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